Leveling instrument.



No. 754,723. PATENTED MAR. 15, 1904. G. G. TOWNSEND.

, LEVELING INSTRUMENT.

v APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES: [NVENTQRv I I I I By L v 7% i. v 7 40. 1. M Q Attorney UNITEDI STATES Patented March 15, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE- ILEVELINGJNSTRUMENT1 SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 754,723, dated March. 15, 1904.

Application filed June 16, 1903.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE GALE TOWN- sEND, a resident of Frostburg, inthe county of Allegany and State of Maryland, have invented certain newand' useful Improvements in Leveling Instruments; and I do herebydeclarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which'itpertains to make and use the same.

The inventlon relates to surveying instruments or hand-levels, and hasfor its object to about five feet above the surface upon which itstands. It has near what inuse will be its upper end a slot B, in whichis suspended a hollow frame or casting (1, having fixed in one end by ascrew or otherwise a sight-tube D about one foot in length andthree-fourths or more inches in diameter. Within the frame G,constituting the tube-support, is suspended a rod E, provided at itsfree end with a weight F, having by preference a width greater than thatof the main rod or staff A. I

The frame C is fixed in any suitable manner, as by a screw, to a spindleG, journaled in bearings J in the upper end of the rod A, the framebeing free to swing with the spindle in said bearings.

The weighted rod is' pivoted to the frame at K and is adjustable withreference to the frame and its tube D by means of an adjusting-screw L,opposed by a spring M. The weighted rod suspended by means of thecasting C from the staff by means of the spindle G is a pendulum forleveling the tube 1).

In the direction transverse to the adjusting- 5 screw and spring the rodpractically fills the Fig. 2

Serial No. 161,706. (No model.)

opening in the frame C, and swinging of the pendulum or weighted rod inthat plane is thereby prevented.

When the instrument is not in use, the weight can be held within theslot B by any suitable catch, spring-bolt, or the like R capable ofbeing moved to an inoperative situation. S denotes stops, which limitthe movement of the pendulum in the plane of the sight-tube. T (see Fig.4:) denotes a wind-guard, which, if desired, can be used to furtherinclose' the pendulum.

Within eachend of the sight-tube Dis an I eyepiece 0, one part of whichhas a'closed part provided with a peep-hole Q, the other part being openand provided with a crosswire P.

The instrument can be made of any suitable material, brass beingsuitable for most of the parts. A onefourth-inch steel rod is suitablefor the pendulum-rod. The main rod may be made of wood. The invention isnot limited as to the materials to be used, nor as to the proportionsand sizes indicated, nor as to details of construction not particularlyclaimed. A flat spring M is illustrated for convenience; but any usualor suitableform of spring may be used.

Since each end of the sight-tube is provided lum will then instantlyassume a horizontal position, and the sight can be taken, the operationbeing much speedier than by the use of the'ordinary hand or liquidlevels. The staff held in the hand can be easily turned to look througheither end of the tube at a given 'ob, ject, which tube being providedin each end with a peep-hole and sight-line enables adjustment for thehorizontal line before referred to.

The instrument',-. i s suitable for general use in running grade-lines,ascertaining levels, and like work whenever speed and conveniencecombined with approximately accurate results are required, and moreexpensive instruments are unnecessary or undesirable.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a leveling instrument, a slotted stali, a sight-tube supportsuspended within the staff-slot, and a pendulum suspended from thetube-support and situated in said slot, and a screw and opposing springfor adjusting the relation of the pendulum to the said support.

2. In a leveling instrument, a slotted staif, a sight-tube supportsuspended within the staff-slot, and a pendulum suspended from thetube-support and situated within said slot, and means for preventing thependulum swinging in a plane transverse to the length of the tube, saidmeans consisting of the parts of thestafl immediately adjacent the slot.

3. In a leveling instrument, a slotted stafl", a sight-tube supportsuspended within the staff-slot, and a pendulum suspended from thetube-support and situated in said slot, and means for preventing thependulum swinging in a plane transverse to the length of the tube, saidmeans consisting of the parts of the stafi" immediately adjacent theslot, and stops S to limit the swing of the pendulum Within the slot ina direction lengthwise the tube.

4. In a leveling instrument, a slotted stafl, a sight-tube supportsuspended within the staff-slot, and a pendulum suspended from thetube-support and situated in said slot, and means for preventing thependulum swinging in a plane transverse to the length of the tube, saidmeans consisting of the parts of the stafl immediately adjacent theslot, and a windguard embracing the staff and also embracing thependulum situated within the stafl'.

5. In a leveling instrument, a slotted staff, a sight-tube supportsuspended within the stafi-slot, and a pendulum suspended from thetube-support and situated in said slot, and a spping-stop R to hold thependulum immovab e.

6. Inaleveling instrument, theslotted stafi", the hollow tube-supportsuspended in the staffslot, the pendulum having a rod extending into thehollow of the support and filling the same in a direction transverse tothe length of the tube and pivoted therein near the mouth of saidhollow, the support having a hollow flared-in shape to permit the rod toswing on a pivot in a direction lengthwise the tube, and having wallsfitting the pendulumrod to prevent transverse oscillation.

7. Inaleveling instrument, the slotted staff, the hollow tube-supportsuspended in the staffslot, the pendulum having a rod extending into thehollow of the support and filling the same in a direction transverse tothe length of the tube and pivoted therein near the mouth of saidhollow, the latter being flared in shape to permit the rod to swing on apivot in adirection lengthwise the tube, and an adjustingscrew andopposing spring bearing on the rod within the hollow.

8. In a leveling instrument, the rotatable staff, the sight-tubesuspended in said staff, and similar eyepieces, one in each end of thetube, said eyepieces each comprising a partiallyclosed end of the tubeprovided with a peep hole and an opening beside the closed part providedwith a cross-wire.

9. In a leveling instrument, a supportingstafi, a sight-tube, asight-tube support, suspended in the stafl, and a pendulum suspendedfrom said support, the support being pivoted in the stall above thesituation of the tube.

In testimony whereof I. have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE GALE TOWNSEND.

Witnesses:

CLAYTON PURNELL, J. B. ODER.

